This document discusses different strategies for coping with stress, including biofeedback, meditation/relaxation, physical exercise, and social support. It provides details on what each strategy involves and how it can help reduce stress. Students are asked to reflect on which coping strategies they use most and least personally and to discuss which seems to be most commonly used among their classmates.

1. VCE Psychology Units 3 & 4
Lesson
8
Applica.on
of
Strategies
for
Coping
With
Stress

2. Lesson
7
Alterna-ve
Factors
and
Approaches
of
the
Stress
Response
EXAM
QUESTION

3. ANSWER:
A: Britt’s allostatic load would increase

4. What is stress?
Stress
is
a
state
of
physiological
and
psychological
arousal
produced
by
internal
or
external
stressors
that
are
perceived
by
the
individual
as
challenging
or
exceeding
their
ability
or
resources
to
cope.
Source: Photo alto

5. What
causes
you
stress?
Rank
the
following
stressors
in
order
of
how
stressed
they
make
you
feel
(1=lowest
to
7=highest):

conflicts
with
a
boyfriend
or
girlfriend

dissa>sfac>on
with
your
athle>c
skills

having
your
trust
betrayed
by
a
friend

struggling
to
meet
your
own
academic
standards

not
having
enough
money

conflicts
with
family
members

dissa>sfac>on
with
your
physical
appearance.
Compare
your
responses
with
the
person
next
to
you.

6. Your stress response
When
you
are
stressed:
a)
what
physiological
responses
do
you
experience?
b)
what
psychological
responses
do
you
experience?
Source: Image Source

7. Coping
with
stress
• How
do
you
cope
with
stress?
• There
are
many
different
ways
of
coping
with
stress.
Coping with stress
Biofeedback Meditation or Physical Social support
relaxation exercise
Using thought Help or
A deeply relaxed Engaging
processes to assistance
state; reduced in physical
control a from other
psychological and activity
physiological people
physiological
response
tension

8. Biofeedback
• During biofeedback training,
electrical or mechanical
sensors (e.g. electrodes on
an EEG, EMG or a blood
pressure cuff) are attached
to the person.
• These sensors respond to
and provide feedback on a Source: Getty
particular physiological
response, e.g. tension in a
particular muscle, blood
pressure or skin
temperature.

9. Biofeedback
• A person is taught a series of
exercises designed to help them
learn how to gain control over
the physiological response that is
being monitored.
• Biofeedback can be beneficial in
helping people manage stress-
related problems such as high
blood pressure, chronic pain and
migraines.
Source: Bananastock

10. Medita-on
and
relaxa-on
• The term meditation is used interchangeably with
relaxation because meditation involves relaxation and
relaxation can be achieved by using a meditative
technique.
• When in a relaxed or meditative state, people typically
report:
• feeling calm
• a low level or absence of anxiety
• responses associated with a low level of overall
physiological arousal such as lower heart rate, slower
breathing rate and loss of muscle tension.
List three things you do to relax.

11. Physical exercise
Physical
exercise
is
physical
ac-vity
that
is
usually
planned
and
performed
to
improve
or
maintain
one’s
physical
condi-on.
Aerobic
exercise
is
best
for
physical
and
mental
health,
although
anaerobic
exercise
is
bePer
than
no
exercise
at
all.
What
is
the
difference
between
aerobic
and
anaerobic
exercise?
Give
2
examples
of
each.
Source: Getty

12. Social
Support
Social
support
is
help
or
assistance
from
other
people
when
needed.
Social support
Appraisal Tangible Information Emotional
support support support support
Person is Person is given Person is Person is
helped tangible support, given given warmth,
to realistically e.g. food, financial information care and
appraise the assistance or nurturing
stressor goods

13. Social support
What
type(s)
of
social
support
do
other
people
give
to
you?
What
type(s)
of
social
support
do
you
give
to
other
people?
Source: Image Source

14. Coping
with
stress
In order to cope with stress, which one do you use
most and which one do you use least?
Rank
in
order
from
1
(not
at
all)
to
4
(a
lot):

biofeedback

medita>on/relaxa>on

physical
exercise

social
support
Which
of
the
four
is
most
commonly
used
in
your
class?